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ISF Mistral-C

  Developed from the original Mistral, which first flew in 1975, the ISF Model 2 Mistral-C single-seat Club Class sailplane is a product of the German firm Ingenieur/Buro Dipl-ing Strauber - Frommhold GmbH & Co KG. Design work ДальшеMore>>> on the Mistral-C, which was intended to conform with the new FAI Club regulations, started in October 1974 and the prototype made its first flight in October 1976; 20 examples of this glassfibre T-tailed sailplane had been completed by the beginning of 1979. The type took 3rd place out of 33 contestants in the first Club-class international competition held in Sweden in 1979. The Mistral-C is a cantilever shoulder wing monoplane with 1° forward sweep at the quarter-chord line; the wings and tail unit are of glassfibre reinforced plastic/foam/Conticell CC60 sandwich construction, the ailerons being of glassfibre reinforced plastic (GRP). There are Schempp-Hirth aluminium air brakes in the wing upper surfaces. The fuselage is a GRP monocoque structure, and the landing gear consists of a non-retractable monowheel with a brake, and a tailskid. The tailplane is a fixed incidence one with spring trim, and the pilot sits under a large flush-fitting one-piece canopy that opens sideways. There is a towing hook on the centre of gravity, and a nose-mounted hook is optional. In 1980 Mistral Flugzeugbau was formed to continue production of the Mistral-C at Hassfurt/Main; it had previously been built at Bensheim. There are plans for a 17m span and a Standard Class version of the Mistral-C, as well as a motorised variant with retractable dorsal engine.


Data: Mistral-C
Span: 49 ft 2 1/2 in
Length: 22 ft 1 in
Height: 4 ft 9 in
Wing area: 116.8 sqft
Aspect ratio: 20.7
Empty weight: 529 lb
Max weight: 771 lb
Max speed: 155 mph (in smooth air)
Max aero-tow speed: 105 mph
Min sinking speed: 2.17 ft/sec at 43.5 mph
Best glide ratio: 35: 1 at 55.5 mph